The popular chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) medication Tasigna may have a significant but downplayed risk—indeed, Tasigna and atherosclerosis, a serious artery disease, have been linked. Unfortunately, atherosclerosis can lead to severe complications. These side effects include life-threatening problems like peripheral artery disease, stroke, or a heart attack.

A growing number of patients are turning to litigation, alleging that Tasigna’s manufacturer, Novartis, failed to adequately warn about the link between Tasigna and atherosclerosis. If you or a loved one has experienced these or other side effects because of Tasigna and atherosclerosis, you may be able to pursue litigation.

Tasigna Background

Tasigna (generic name nilotinib) is a popular drug manufactured by the Switzerland-based company Novartis, and approved to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). CML is a type of cancer that starts in blood-forming cells of the bone morrow, and slowly grows over time. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Tasigna in 2007. Since then, this drug has become increasingly popular. Now, it is one of the country’s most widely used cancer medications, bringing in more than $1.7 billion in the year 2016 alone.

Unfortunately, a growing number of patients are reporting suffering from serious side effects after use of the drug, and studies have shown a link between Tasigna and atherosclerosis.

Side Effects of Tasigna

While it is expected that with medications comes the risk of certain side effects, these potential risk factors should appear on the drug’s warning label. Tasigna’s label lists side effects like pain, fatigue, and constipation.

But one of the drug’s most serious risks wasn’t always included on the warning label. Tasigna may increase the risk of atherosclerosis, a dangerous artery disease, but until 2015, this risk wasn’t made apparent on the drug’s label.

So what exactly is atherosclerosis? This is a condition in which the artery walls become thicker as plaque builds up. This limits blood flow, and can cause other major issues like vascular disease.

Reports of complications from Tasigna prompted the 2015 warning label update to include the link between Tasigna and atherosclerosis.

If atherosclerosis leads to or peripheral arterial disease (PAD), also known as peripheral vascular disease, patients face a risk of serious or even life-threatening complications. When a patient suffers from peripheral vascular disease, they lose considerable blood circulation. This is a serious risk, and can cause major and life-threatening cardiovascular issues. If an artery were to become totally blocked, in an extreme case, a patient could develop gangrene or even require a limb to be amputated.

Indeed, blood circulation loss caused by peripheral vascular disease can pose substantial problems for patients, even leading to major cardiovascular issues. In extreme cases, when the artery becomes totally blocked from peripheral vascular disease, patients may suffer from gangrene or require limb amputation.

Can You File a Tasigna Lawsuit?

A growing number of patients are coming forward with claims that Novartis actually knew about these serious Tasigna risks far before the warning label was updated in 2015, yet failed to alert patients or the medical community.

If you or a loved one has suffered because of Tasigna side effects, including peripheral vascular disease, you may be able to pursue litigation against the drugmaker Novartis. While filing a lawsuit cannot undo the physical or emotional harm caused by these side effects, it can help with the financial burden brought on by medical expenses or lost wages.